BCIT Medford Newsletter
August 2015
Parents & Students:
As we approach the opening of school on September 3rd, the BCIT administration want to make sure that you have all the information that you need for a successful start of the school year. This month’s newsletter will provide you additional information regarding important items such as school lunches, dress code regulations, and the back to school letter from Dr. Manno, the Superintendent of Schools.
For all our new families to BCIT, transportation information will be forwarded to you from your home school district. BCIT does not determine pick-up times or locations, as all transportation information is provided by your home district. Please direct all questions and concerns to your home district’s transportation department. Contact information can be found on your home district’s webpage.
Also, parents that drop-off their children at BCIT in the morning, the building will be open for students promptly at 7:40am. Students are to be dropped off in front of the building by the flagpole and enter through the doors by the Medford sign. DO NOT ENTER THROUGH THE MAIN OFFICE. There will be a staff member at the student entrance door to allow the students to enter.
Enjoy the last few weeks of the summer and please feel free to contact BCIT if you have any questions as you prepare for the upcoming school year.
Thank you,
Mike Parker
Principal BCIT MedfordFROM THE OFFICE OF DR. CHRISTOPHER M. MANNO, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS:
August 2015
Dear BCIT Families:
The summer vacation is more than halfway over, and back-to-school time is quickly approaching. Staff and administrators have been working diligently to ensure that when our children return to school, resources are in place to support teaching and learning. We are interviewing candidates for selection for various positions. We are working to improve technology, maintain and improve facilities, and enhance security. Our schools are preparing class assignments and schedules. Buildings are being cleaned and menus revised. Policies are being revised and written, and supplies and materials are being purchased.
The first day of school for students is Thursday, September 3, 2015; this will be a full day for students and staff. Important information may be found on our district website, www.bcit.cc, including:
· The district calendar
· The BCIT Parent/Student Handbook
· Information regarding emergency school closings and delays in the student handbook
· Information regarding school lunches on each campus website
· Information regarding the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act for students.
We wish everyone a pleasant remainder of the summer, and hope you join in our enthusiasm for another great year of learning. Through the continued support of the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders, we look forward to continuing to pursue our shared Mission to prepare adolescents and adults of Burlington County to enter the labor market and/or to continue their education.
Sincerely,
Dr. Christopher M. Manno
Superintendent of Schools
AFTER SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION
BCIT Medford will have several after school activities and sports for our students. There will be a late bus provided by BCIT to provide transportation for students that are staying after school. The busses will depart at approximately 5:15-5:30pm. Students are only permitted to stay after school under the supervision of a staff member. Students must sign-up the day prior to staying after school with the assigned staff member for the activity.
AFTER SCHOOL DETENTION
After-School Detention sessions will run Tuesday and Thursday each week. Parents will be notified of the detention through the Genesis Parent Portal and communication from the assigning administrator. Students are expected to be in the detention room at 3:00pm and detention will conclude at 5:00pm. The late bus will provide transportation, but parents are also permitted to pick up the students in the student parking lot. Students are required to take the late bus home if their ride is not on campus when the late busses are ready to leave. It is recommended that parents be on campus by 5:15pm to pick up students staying after school.
BCIT MEDFORD GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
STUDENT SCHEDULES
A schedule will be provided to the students in homeroom on the first day of school.
Homeroom listings will be posted through the building for students to identify their homeroom assignment.
SENIORS
TESTING INFO/ACADEMIC REMEDIATION
STUDENT-ATHLETE INFORMATION
Any senior student-athlete wishing to compete in the NCAA Division 1 or 2 level must complete an application through the NCAA Clearinghouse. Log on to www.ncaaeligibilitycenter.org to register. You must complete this process to receive any type of athletic scholarship money! Student athletes are reminded to send their SAT and ACT test scores to the Eligibility Center by entering the code “9999” in the box when registering for the tests.
Students are encouraged to get involved in all the various athletics and activities that BCIT Medford has to offer. Please visit the STUDENT LIFE section on the BCIT Medford Website to find information on all of our programs. Our fall sports preseason begins August 17th at 9 am. Please make sure you have all the required paperwork into the Athletic Director’s office at least one week prior to the start of preseason. All of the forms necessary for participation (physical packet, parent permission consent form, emergency information form, health history form, etc.) can be found on the BCIT Medford Page – Administration – Assistant Principal/Athletic Director – Athletics – Forms & Documents: Athletics Forms and Documents
GET INVOLVED and be proactive to make the most out of your high school experience!
For your convenience, please visit the link below to access the Required Athletic Packet:
SCHOOL LUNCHES
Information for Free and Reduced Lunch will be in located on the Medford Home Page under Parents>School Lunches.
This page will provide all the information that you will need to complete the online application for Free and Reduced Lunch.
Parents will also have the ability to create an account for their children from this page. This will allow the students to pay for lunch through their ID card.
Welcome back to a new school year!
Breakfast Prices are $2.00 for Full Paid, .30 for Reduced and Free for eligible students.
Lunch Prices are $3.25 for Full Paid, .40 Reduced and Free for eligible students.
To help your student experience an easy transition this school year, please fill out his/her meal application. These application must be filled out each school year or you risk that your student may not be eligible for the discounted child nutrition rate. These applications are available on our website under Parents>School Lunch. You can also make payment online at www.parentonline.net . For every $20.00 you place on your students account you will receive a 10% bonus.
If you have any questions about your students meal, special dietary needs, or suggestions please feel free to contact us.
Margaret Happe – Director of Food Service – MHappe@bcsssd.k12.nj.us or 609-261-5600 x2302 Office
Meredith Whiteley – Dietitian – MWhiteley@bcsssd.k12.nj.us or 609-261-5600 x2310
If you have questions regarding your student’s meal application please contact
Gina Copper- Secretary to the Food Service Director- GCopper@bcsssd.k12.nj.us or 609-261-5600 x 2303
CTE NEWS
ATTENTION FRESHMEN
September brings your opportunity to select your career major. This is a very important decision and one that will affect your next four years at BCIT if not the rest of your life. You will be exploring four different career majors. In order for you to maximize your choices, it is essential that you try your very best with each experience because your selection into a career major is based on the assessment of your performance and the level of interest in the career major. Students typically get their first or second choice but the process is competitive and only those in the top tiers are selected. If you wish to change any of the career majors you choose, contact the guidance office as soon as possible.
ATTENTION RETURNING STUDENTS
It is time to gather your safety equipment and check it for signs of disrepair. Also, don’t forget to replace any shop clothing that show signs of wear and tear. This is a big year if you are a senior. You will be preparing to take your career major exit test, many of which are a license or industry certification important for demonstrating employability. If you are eligible, school-to-work is an excellent way to improve your skills and have a job waiting for you after graduation. Contact the School-to-Work office at ext. 8433 if you are interested.
ATTENDANCE POLICY REVIEW
Every student is expected to be in school every day, all day. Should the student be absent in excess of 8 days per semester, then he/she will be placed on non-credit status. Students who reach a total of 16 or more days absent from school for the semester will not be eligible for non–credit remediation, and may be referred to the Superintendent for consideration for referral to the Board of Education for action.
Partial absences caused by lateness to school or early departure from school will be counted toward non-credit. Each partial absence will be equal to at least .25 of a day. Four (4) such partial absences shall equal one (1) day absence for the purpose of non-credit.
SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST
Please visit the Student Life section of the BCIT Medford website to find information regarding the Medford Campus School Supply List: School Supply List
DRESS CODE
The purpose of this dress code is to prepare students for expectations of the world of work and to promote the image of the school district. All students are required to dress in a manner that reflects good taste, modesty, and appropriateness for the type of career major in which the student is enrolled. Choice of attire should be made according to the health, safety, and welfare of all students. The dress code policy is available in the BCIT Parent Student Handbook found on the district website: BCIT Parent Student Handbook
Please also visit the Dress Code 101: Clarification and FAQs section of the BCIT Medford website for more helpful information regarding the Do's and Don'ts of our campus attire:
BCIT FOUNDATION
Our Coach Bingo events are so popular we’re planning two each year! Sell-out crowds bring snacks, enthusiasm and luck to the Atrium at the Westampton Campus for friendly games that result in winners of Coach bags, Coach merchandise and cash prizes. The 50-50 Game alone gave more than $1,000 to the lucky winner! "Party of 8" reservations are guaranteed a table to themselves; players who reserve 7 or fewer spots will find seats on a first-come, first-served basis.
· Thu., Oct. 15 at Westampton Atrium
· 6 pm Doors Open, 7 pm Games Begin
· $25 per person in advance
· Admission covers cards for 6 Regular games; card packs for 10 Specials games and a 50-50 game will be available for purchase.
Proceeds benefit the Foundation’s mission to support the school’s students and staff with education-based technology and post-secondary scholarships.
Get in on the games by sending a check to BCIT Foundation (695 Woodlane Rd, Westampton NJ 08060) with your contact phone number and email address. Or charge reservations online using Paypal; go to www.bcit.cc/foundation and click on Events.
Guests can bring food (no alcohol), but we’ll provide snacks for every table. Must be 18 to attend.
Does your company want 300 pairs of eyes on its logo? Event Sponsors ($100) get signage next to a displayed prize and on the info sheets placed on every table.
Questions? Call the Foundation at (609) 267-4226, ext. 335 or send an email to foundation@bcit.cc.
This event is not affiliated with Coach Inc. BCIT Foundation will operate this event under state ID #329-5-34741 and municipal license BA7-2015.
SUMMER READING
9th GRADE SUMMER MATH ASSIGNMENT
Important Information
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students who are 18 years of age or older ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are:
1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days after the day the school receives a request for access.
Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the records they wish to inspect. The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.
Parents or eligible students who wish to ask the Burlington County Institute of Technology to amend a record should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel) or a person serving on the school board. A school official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of the school who performs an institutional service of function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist; a parent or student volunteering to serve on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee; or a parent, student, or other volunteer assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school district to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202
Notification of Rights Under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)
PPRA affords parents certain rights regarding our conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. These include the right to:
Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas (“protected information survey”) if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) –
1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;
2. Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;
3. Sex behavior or attitudes;
4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
5. Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;
6. Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;
7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or
8. Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.
Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of –
1. Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding;
2. Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school or its agent, and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings, or any other physical exam or screening permitted or required under State law; and
3. Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students for marketing or to sell to otherwise distribute information to others.
Inspect, upon request and before administration or use –
1. Protected information surveys of students;
2. Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes; and
3. Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.
These rights transfer from the parents to a student who is 18 years old or an emancipated minor under State law.
Burlington County Institute of Technology (BCIT) has developed and adopted policies, in consultation with parents, regarding these rights, as well as arrangements to protect student privacy in the administration of protected information surveys and the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes. BCIT will notify parents of these policies at least annually at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes. BCIT will also directly notify, such as through U.S. Mail or email, parents of students who are scheduled to participate in the specific activities or surveys noted below and will provide an opportunity for the parent to opt his or her child out of participation of the specific activity or survey. BCIT will make this notification to parents at the beginning of the school year if the District has identified the specific or approximate dates of the activities or surveys at that time. For surveys and activities scheduled after the school year starts, parents will be provided reasonable notification of the planned activities and surveys listed below and be
provided an opportunity to opt their child out of such activities and surveys. Parents will also be provided an opportunity to review any pertinent surveys. Following is a list of the specific activities and surveys covered under this requirement:
· Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales or other distribution.
· Administration of any protected information survey not funded in whole or part by ED.
· Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening as described above.
Parents who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-5901